Sunday is spiritual day.
The practice of affirmations is a big part of the self-help movement. Doing them is also popular among network marketers.
Affirming something as true that isn’t yet, e.g. “I’m earning $10,000/mo,” has helped some people keep going when they got discouraged.
My question is this: is it honest to offer your affirmations or projections, without telling that’s what they are, when you’re presenting the business with the goal of encouraging someone to come in?
Is it OK to let it slide that you’re really not earning what you’re affirming or projecting in a sales setting, because it’s your affirmation?
Here’s a 1:55 minute clip from a student in New School Session #3, who was taught to do just this.
New School Session #3 projections/delusions?
Where do you stand? Are affirmations delusions for sale? And is that OK without being transparent about the way things really are at the moment?
—
In case – New School Intro CDs and New School MP3s Sessions 1-10
I’ve already expressed my disgust at “The Secret” and the pseudo-science it espouses.
I’ve got a different take on affirmations. They can be excellent tools as long as they are actionable.
Affirmations such as: “I will prospect today until I connect with three individuals” is just fine.
But I’m totally on board with you Kim, in that you can affirm (or try to attract) $10,000 per month income, but unless you understand and do the necessary steps, it does nothing for you.
— Walter Reade (from Wisconsin)
http://www.SpaBeautyAtHome.com
As a new distributor, I tell my prospect that I am just getting started, that I cannot predict my future or theirs. I tell them what MY target goals are, but that my goals may be less or greater than theirs. I also tell them I do not know how commited they are to achieving what they want, but if they were to look around at their friends and co-workers, they will see a fair prediction of their own future if they continue to do just what they do now.
Then I add that if they want to talk with someone who IS earning the kind of money they are seeking, I can get them on the phone or better yet, introduce them to someone at the next meeting.
Wow–if I am asked how I am doing–I say I am still reaching for my goals–and if I am asked how much money can be made–I share with them our compensation plan–because isn’t it up to us how successful we are?
I am interested to see what others say–have a great Memorial Day weekend!
I am a very black & white thinker, so I have always had trouble with affirmations. Furthermore, I could never portray myself as more successful than I really am. To me that is deception, pure and simple. I say tell it like it is.
Fondly,
Marti
I think people take the whole concept of “act like you are successful” wrong.
When you say to yourself “I am making $20,000 per month” yet your electricity has been cut off because you can’t pay the five hundred or so dollars overdue, you are simply deceiving yourself. Not only that, your mind knows the reality of the moment – you can’t deceive it.
By acting like it, you do not (and don’t need to) engage in self-deception. You are simply acting like have what you want. You know the reality is different, and you are in terms with that.
Even this (acting like you have what you want) is not easy to keep up on all the time, especially when things are really rough. That’s why you also need a way pull yourself out when you begin to face discouragement.
I like Walter’s approach that affirmations are actionable. That makes sense to me.
Also someone else mentioned that if they want to connect someone to a top earner they can get them on the phone. That also verifies that someone is actually making that kind of money, even if it is not you.
So we know there are people in the business making an impressive income, even if it is not us at the time.
I did not even watch or read the secret. I have heard this kind of idea before.
They way I interpret the affirmation idea is it is a way to motivate yourself. Something like the power of positive thinking.
I would never tell anyone I was earning $10,000/month if I was not.
Honesty is the best policy always. Projecting your earnings and then using that information like it was actually happening would be deceitful.
Regards,
Erin Ely
http://www.elyorganics.com
Let me first say that using your affirmations to “indicate” that is your current leve is WRONG! There are no ifs ands or buts about that one in my opinion.
However, The Secret and affirmations and The Law of Attraction are an incredible tool that SHOULD be used by anyone truly wanting to succeed. The Secret was a great thing to come into mass consciousness because it brought a tool to light that had only before been known to those truly looking for ways outside the box that they could reach their dreams.
Ok, the Secret is not perfect. While it does say that you have to take action (and can’t just sit back and think your way to your dreams), I don’t think it puts quite enough emphasis on it. But if you take it as the first step and encourage yourself, as many have, to read and learn more about the Law of Attraction, you’ll quickly learn that it is a tool that can help you succeed when you truly implement it the way it should be.
David, you are right, acting like you have want you want ALL the time is hard. But if you act like it 75% of the time more than you used to, you will have more than you used to. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. It has to be more than it was.
There is a common understanding that if you are depressed but get up and act like you aren’t, eventually you will start to feel better. It works. The only tough part in this is deciding you want to feel better enough that you are willing to get up and act like it. It’s the same thing here. You have to really want to reach your goal.
I don’t think there will ever be a perfect system out there but I think Law of Attraction does a lot more for a lot more people than anything else in the past and that is because of The Secret.
Nicole Bandes
I love to send out cards again
Affirmations only work if you believe what you are affirming.
So if you currently earn $1000 and want to earn $10,000, just affirming it without feeling what making $10,000 would be like, won’t help. If you take it in smaller increments that feel do-able then affirmations are fine, as part of your plan to attain the 10K.
Pay attention to how saying any affirmation makes you feel. If it feels good, it’s helping, if it doesn’t it’s not. In other words, follow your intuition. It knows what’s best, and in your best interest, every time without fail.
I feel if people would just take the time to get back in touch with their intuition, all aspects of life would flow more smoothly and easily.
Happy Memorial Day to all:-)
Tracy
About me
Organic Foods Mom
Affirmations can be helpful as long as you use them correctly. A better way is to say “I am in the process of ….” or I am excited about ….” Then you won’t feel like a fraud and can raise more positive energy to attract what you want.
When people ask me how much I’m making, I reply “Our company’s regulations don’t allow us to tell you that. They want you to make a decision based on your own choice and I’m not allowed to entice you with how much I make. I can explain our compensation plan to you so that you can see the potential if you like. What would YOU like to make, let’s say in the next 90 days and in the next 2 years?” When they answer, I say, “Then let’s sit down and work together to make that happen.”
I agree with Nicole completely. However, if you read the Law of Attraction by Michael Losier, he does not agree with using affirmations either. Repeating affirmations that you don’t believe can “put a pencil in your fan”. The law of attraction is more about creating your vision and moving towards that vision.
Attitude is so important, particularly in this business. How you get the right attitude is up to you, just be aware of the different tools available, and always be honest and true to yourself and your prospects!
Ann
http://nomorebreathingproblems.blogspot.com/
Nicole wrote: While [The Secret] does say that you have to take action (and can’t just sit back and think your way to your dreams) . . .
I’ve got the movie and the book. Can someone point me to a page or place in the movie where it says you have to take action and just can’t sit back and think your way to dreams?
I’ve rinsed through the material a number of times, and the clear message is that you’re supposed to send out positive thoughts, and the universe will deliver.
— Walter Reade (from Wisconsin)
http://www.SpaBeautyAtHome.com
Making ANY income claims in a violation of FTC (Federal Trade Commission) law. It is ILLEGAL ILLEGAL ILLEGAL.
Not to mention immoral and unconscionable to mislead others. And even worse, to outright lie.
I can only wonder what companies and/or uplines are teaching people to LIE about their businesses to other people. No wonder the MLM biz gets a tarnished reputation.
If one is with a solid company with reputable products and intelligent, experienced successful company owners and management, and has a REAL & VIABLE biz opportunity, making up crazy stories just doesn’t enter the picture.
If someone is being taught that lie-ing and mis-representing is what is needed to make a successful biz, I would take that as a BIG DANGER WARNING and RUN RUN RUN the other way as fast as I could.
An affirmation is a self-reprogramming device to re-set one’s own unconscious expectations. It is NOT an excuse to lie and mislead others.
There are several valuable tools to evaluate any MLM opportunity that I have posted on my networking resources blog
http://NETWORKwithPAT.blogspot.com
Lying and misleading others is NOT on the valued list.
The founder of our company had an ideal way to talk to others about our Co.’s business opportunity. She learned to recruit this way during her 30 year career in Direct Sales and taught the women in her own Co. to recuit this way as well. As time has gone on, some of our Company leaders have strayed away from this method and it has caused some major problems.
It was very simple, she’d take the prospect with her on a home party selling appt. She’d tell them beforehand that whether the sales and bookings were good or bad, they’d still be learning alot because if they decided to join the company it would count as their first training show ( She did 3 training shows with new recruits). Afterward they’d stop for coffee and she’d show them her sales records from the last 4-6 weeks. She said that it gave them a picture of sales that were local, realistic and recent. When they looked at her record book they quickly saw averages. They’d see that some parties sales & bookings were great, some average and some not so great. She didn’t have to make promises or exaggerate what she was doing and earning. She then asked them if they’d like to try this business opp for themselves.
No hype, no spin, no promises, no problems. As I stated earlier, problems have come about because some of the leaders in our company have promoted gross overstatements about what people are earning and how successful they’ve been in our company, so much so that our corporate office had to pubilsh materials to refute the claims.
Our founder taught us that you never go wrong by simply being honest with people, thanks Kim for the constant reminders.
I have to say ditto to the comments Tracy “Organic Foods Mom” made. It’s about believing.
I use affirmations quite often in my personal life and business. After reading the comments here I guess I view my affirmations in a different light. I put a lot of common sense with them. I don’t speak my affirmations to others. It’s a personal dialogue with myself. It’s more about planting the seed that I will be successful and then watching it grow everyday. I have to believe and affirmations is one way that helps. Of course I know I can’t just sit here and think about it and like magic it happens. Life isn’t like that, anything worth having requires action and belief.
I do not agree with telling someone your income if it’s just your vision of where you will end up. I don’t tell my income at all. Like I’ve read here the best way is to tell your comp plan and what the person will have to do to get where they want to be. Fortunately I’m with a company with integrity and strong ethics so they would never stand for us telling lies (or even stating our income.)
I see no problem with using affirmations to change my way of thinking and it works for me. I don’t expect everyone else to do what works for me, just like I don’t expect everything others are doing to be a fit for me. It’s a new school way of thinking for me; works for me but it may not be a fit for you.
Sorry if I went off the path of the main question. As I answered above it is wrong to state your income when it’s your vision of where you will be. Why do we even need to tell our income? What other profession goes around saying how much money they make?
Robin
/healthypets_now/” REL=”nofollow”>
Healthy Pets Now
Affirmations remind me of Romans 4:17: “. . . call things that be [are] not, as though they were.” To me, that statement is based on faith.
Or, as an upline once told me: ‘fake it until you make it’.
But this statement is based on a lie.
I believe that affirmations are statements that should NOT be spoken to other people, but to one’s self as a form of changing one’s belief. They are PERSONAL and not meant for public consumption.
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, one definition of affirmation is:
“Something declared to be true; a positive statement or judgment.”
So, with regard to your questions: “. . . [I]s it honest to offer your affirmations or projections, without telling that’s what they are . . .” and “Is it OK to let it slide that you’re really not earning what you’re affirming or projecting in a sales setting, because it’s your affirmation?
The answer is a resounding NO to both questions because it’s NOT “honest” without the disclaimer that it’s a PERSONAL affirmation, and it’s NEVER “OK to let it slide that you’re really not earning what you’re affirming . . .”
Another upline told me that when people ask how much he’s earning, his reply is: “Don’t know, I’m still getting paid.” And of course, my favorite response that I heard somewhere is: “What does my earnings have to do with YOUR bills?”
A Johnson Enterprise
Well, this posting certainly generated a lot of diverse comments.
Personally, I believe in the power of affirmations and that it is important that with enough repetition, you will find it gets easier and easier to keep up with your affirmations and build your prosperity consciousness so big and strong that it becomes a permanent part of you.
You can read more about it at my blog http://www.AbundanceLaw.com
Abundance Always.
I like what Aisto says about “creating your vision and moving along with that”. Affirmations are easy to do, but why do 95 % of the people never take action? That’s the flaw of The Secret: they do not tell you HOW you can get yourself in alignment and change your vibration.
In my perspective, affirmations do not ‘not work’ just because they are BS, but because most people have energy blocks that prevents them from reaching their goals or stop procrastinating and focussing on what they really want. These blocks come from what we’ve learned as a child from our parents, family, teachers, peers, religious guides and many more. Beliefs like “you’re not worthy”, “you don’t deserve to have money”, “rich people are dishonest”, “I can’t earn more money than my parents because then I would be better than they were”. It’s our belief system that gets us stuck and the only way to change where you are today (and make affirmations work for you) is by changing your beliefs.
Start using energy techniques like EFT to remove blockages from the past, cut your emotional trees so to speak and work WITH the flow of your energy system instead of against it and THEN start using affirmations along the process.
I use the honest approach. If anyone is really intelligent, they are going to know if you are being real with them or not. I am not afraid to share my goals and to let people know I am on track for my goals. I also encourage other people to take time to make goals for themselves and to share them with me. I also feel it is important to encourage people to start or continue on their journey of personal development since I feel this is key in becoming successful in your own business. More than anything I think affirmations are great to keep you motivated. You have to believe in yourself and that is a big part of it. I think it is great to take the time to visualize yourself succeeding and what that looks like for you. Without something to work for, many people give up way too easy.
I believe affirmations can work. Though I personally wouldn’t tell someone I make $20K a month. But I might say, “I will be making 20K a month someday.”
I don’t see anything wrong with believing in yourself so strongly that you project it verbally.
I would rather be walking around saying, “I deserve better in life, ” insted of “I am worthless and don’t deserve happiness or wealth.”
The more we say something – the more we start to believe it. That old saying, “dreams become thoughts, thoughts become actions, actions become results…” or however that goes.
I use a formula to create (true) affirmations that my brain can hold on to.
Through being __(what kind of person am I)____
and pursuing __(what do I need to do)___
I have __(what manifests in the physical world that reflects my intention)__
to experience my purpose of __(what is the feeling behind what I seek)___
e.g.
Through being consistent, organized, and raw (unedited me)
and pursuing contacting 9 qualified business prospects each day
I have five new people join my team each week
to experience my purpose of sharing abundance, wellness, and expanded possibilities.
I have a positive attitude come hell or high water I survive.Positive thinkers have to convince them selves everyday they are positive.Always feeling heir own pulse saying “yup,I am alive”.With a positive attitude it doesn’t make a bit of difference if the day is good or bad.I basically am a plodder I keep going and do what needs doing.I used to do door to selling many moons ago.I knew if I kept making the calls the law of average would work out.I would make sales If I kept asking for the order.The ra ra meetings put the fire in the guys but as soon as hey faced the cold call.Ra RA turn to a lead lump in their stomach.The best day of my sales life was when I bought the book by Bob Ringer “Winning through Intimidation” in 1974 It got rid of my positive thinking attitude replaced it with a POSITIVE ATTITUDE.I knew I could sell,it was not a personal rejection when some one said NO.I tried to close about four times.If I couldn’t I went on to the next customers my ego intact.Without the law of attraction or any other hype.The law of attraction is a two edged sword if you have something others want badly from you.The sharks the do gooder’s whatever type they be.You have them coming at you hammer and tongue.Trying by hook or crook to screw you out of your commission or livelihood.At this point what kicks in is the law of protect your own ass first. Bob Ringer is a lot more believable than the positive thinking hype from the Law of attraction or some or positive thinking club.I prefer a positive attitude knowing what I can and cannot do.Testing my skill to the limits refusing to accept No as an answer.Knowing the word Cannot does not exist.It is dead and buried next to will not.
When you tell a lie you better have a good memory.It is much easier to tell the truth.You sleep better also at peace with the world and GOD.Some people have to have a notebook to write down all the lies they told to remember them.If you lie in business sooner or later you will get caught.I won’t.Some people may not like the truth but at least they know your honest.